CHAPTER ONE

JUNE 2^ND MONDAY 20-----

My name is Nicholas Albert but everyone is calling me nick. That’s my pet name. But that helped me to earn one nickname I hating more than everything and that is ‘pick’. You see the connection? Nick… Pick. It sticks me when I was in my first class. I got angrier when I heard someone saying pick and getting in fight with them. This is happening more of my school days and came home with some bruises. But that was in my first few weeks in school and then I got stronger and now if anyone calling me that name it is in my back.

Okay… I’m living in Goa state in India with my parents and my kid sister. I’m eighteen now and my sister is six years younger than me. My father owned an antique shop in town and mom and dad is running it. I love only my parents and sister in this world. I didn’t like my relatives because they are selfish and greedy. So, I spent all my holidays in home and with my family. And of course, our relatives are not in terms with us because my parents had a love marriage. My father is Portuguese decedent and my mother is French. This irritated their families.

 Our house is situating in a small town near the mountains and the other side surrounded by sea. I like it here because I like birds. I had four albums full of the pictures of birds and starting the fifth. My dad gave me binocular when I was thirteen and I was collecting books that tell something about birds when I was eleven. And my other hobby is music because I’m a violinist. I play violin from child hood and also a drummer. My music teacher discovered this ability in me. I play violin for church quire and both violin and drum for school programs and some competitions I had won the first prize many times.

I think I’m good looking and handsome. I have my dad’s physique and mom’s beauty. I’m fare in color and six feet two inches tall. I’m the tallest boy in our class and that earned me another nickname giraffe. But I didn’t heard anyone calling me direct this name but I know they calling me giraffe because I see the look and giggling they had when anyone say giraffe.  I’m keeping my body fit and doing some exercises. I have two other nicknames and that is poker and bear. I have these big blue eyes so I got the name poker and I have more long and black hairs in my body so, the name bear. I had start shaving when I was fourteen. I think the male hormone is acting early in me other than any one in my class because in my eighteen, I looks like more than twenty.

 I am standing under the shower in this rainy morning getting ready for school I have this habit of bathing twice. First when I wake up in the morning and second before I go to sleep in the night. Each bedroom of our house is bathroom attached because dad believe in privacy when he built by our house.

 Today is the first day of new term in school after the summer vacation.  I’m in my last year of senior high and the last year in school. I’m studying in the boy’s school in our small town. Next year I will go to college in town. My sister, Caroline is her sixth year and her school is in the town. Dad is in my side and told me if anyone hit me punch him on the nose. We are in the same group.

"Nick…. its seven thirty… stop day dreaming in the bathroom and get yourself out...otherwise you’re going to late….” It’s my mom. This is the signal for breakfast is ready.

Mom and dad are going together to our shop and Caroline is going by school bus. I have my bicycle and I like riding the bike. I haven’t any close friends and I like to be alone. Also I didn’t like sharing my room with anyone; so, I never invite anyone to sleepover. And I haven’t any girlfriend too. Say the truth I didn’t like their behavior and their attitude but I’m friends with them. This is my world and I’m the king of here.

"Nick……” mom is calling me again.

I shut the shower and pick a towel to dry me as closing the door and coming to my room. I searched for clean underwear and my school uniform. My hands grab one blue brief and pulled it over my legs. I’m thinking about the chance I have won another nickname if anyone sees me naked or in my brief. But I never let anyone see me like that because I never go to swim in public. I had seen people looking my bulge when I was playing football or wearing tight cloths. Maybe they are thinking I have a permanent hard-on. That was embarrassing so I gave up playing football and paid my full attention on watching birds. I spent the free time in bushes near the mountain or the mountain itself.

Hurriedly I wore my uniform and picked my bag from the cupboard and start running down the stairs to kitchen cum dining room. Caroline had finished her breakfast was getting up from the chair. Dad looked at me with proud and mom with love. Our house maid set a dish full of cornflakes covered with milk in front of me and I frowned. I don’t like cornflakes and milk. So, I take some biscuits and one apple.

"Are you ready, son?” dad asked. I nodded. If he called me son, he is in a good mood and if it is Nick then he is angry.

"You are going to practice after school today..? Mom asked.

"Yeah…” I nodded. Our music teacher is giving us the extra time for practice after school. He selected some students from various classes and I’m the one of his selection.

Finishing my apple, I grabbed my school bag and kissed mom and dad. Then pick my bike from the porch and start to school. This is the new term and there will be new faces in school. I was in good terms with my teachers and I expect that will be same on this year too. I got good grades all my exams and teacher thinks I’m a promising student.  Of course there was some complains about me fighting but that was repeating the whole years I was there. Teachers knew why I got into fighting and they never make it a big issue.

It is a fifteen minutes ride for school and saw other students on their way to school. There are some patches of water on the road and some places it is making a pool from last night’s rain. I was careful to avoid this and heard the horn of our school bus and slipped aside to the road, so the bus wouldn’t shower me with mud water. I was rolling my bicycle on the side of road and avoiding the big pool on the road with red mud water. I was concentrating on this, so I didn’t hear the car came. It came from behind me and splashed the dirty water and covered my school uniform. My grey color pant and white shirt is red and my face get redder than my cloths…I heard someone laughing.

"Hey….” I yelled at the driver.

It is a dark blue car and its glass was shaded black. I can't see anyone in the car. I shook my self to get ride the mud from me and the clothes and dried my face and patted the red patches on my clothes. The car was slowing and I saw the front window on the traveler’s side is lowering. A boy’s face is looking me and he had a smile. I ran to the car as pulling my bike with me. The window is rolling up and the car picked speed.

"Fuck you…you bastard….” I yelled at the boy. I picked a stone and throw at the car. I wasn’t aiming but the stone had its on thoughts and shattered the backlight. "Good...” I thought as rolling my bike and thinking about the poor shape I am in. I saw the boy’s face but can't remember now. I’m only remembering the eyes bigger than mine. Those eyes are keeping to coming in my mind. I know this is someone new because I didn’t see those eyes earlier in this town. I can recognize those eyes in any crowd and if I see you again it is your last. I say to the eyes.

I keep my face blank and pretend not seeing the staring eyes and hiding smiles on my fellow students. I park my bike and walk straight to the pipe. I search each faces as washing my face and cleaning my clothes. No, that eye is not on any faces I’m seeing.

"Nick… is they change the color code of school uniform…?” it is from Martin.

Martin is the most popular boy in our school and we are in same class. We have a mutual friendship that is we are minding ourselves. He is full seven inches shorter than me. He is best in study and sports. He has huge crowd of fans from the juniors and they are willing to do anything for him. He knows this and taking full use of this. If there is any good looking boy is coming new to our school, he is best in making friends with them and then they are joining his crowd of fans. Oh...boy…!

"Yeah…. only for students but not for the clowns…” I say.

Martin’s face is darkening and I saw his fist tightening. But I know he isn’t doing more than that because he knows he wouldn’t win a fight with me. I have experience and he is not doing anything openly that put a black spot on his image. Of course, he never involve in a fight because he is a coward.

I smiled sweetly to him and walk to our class. I sit on my seat and watch the class room. It is same as I left before the summer vacation. I’m sitting in the back raw because of my height. I can see the parking area through the window where I’m sitting. I saw a dark blue car and I stare it. Yes! It is the same car which splashed the mud water on me. I was standing to check on it then the bell rang to announce the class is about to begin. I sit back. My class mates are rushing through the door. I search each face. Not a new face. All are from last year.

Some are my mutual friends and we wish each other.

"Good morning, everybody…” it was a new voice and we are silent.

I looked to the platform to check from whom the voice is come. That was not our class teacher but someone we didn’t see before.

"Where is Mr. William?” one of us asked. Mr. William was our class teacher.

"He left the school because of his personal problems.” She answered. Yeah, I know he is going to join his family in Australia.

"I’m Clara….. I’m your new class teacher and teach the same subject as him.” this is a relief to us. Because Mr. William taught us English and it was boring to hear.

Now, it was our turn to introduce us and we are doing that. When I said my name she was looking stern one second then smiled. I think this is because of my appearance. Perhaps she is thinking what an older boy who is belonging to college is doing here. She needs to read my school file.

She is asking us to open our texts after taking attendance and starts to read from the first chapter. I let my eyes to wander out side and they focused on the dark blue car. It has the back light broken. I frowned and think hard whose car is that.

"Nicholas…. May we know what the beautiful sight there is you are watching…?” she is standing in front my desk. She is reaching only my chest and I have to look down to see her face. She is looking at the car as I am.

"Yes…Madam” my answer was firm. "That is the same car which sprayed the mud water on me. I was thinking about that whose car is that?” I didn’t know how I said this because I was never like this.

"Meet me after class… I’ll tell you who’s..?” she turned. Every eye was looking us and now lowered to look her.

Well… I thought. A very good start with the new teacher and this is the first day of new term. What is happening to me? First the mud water shower and now this….! I look blankly on the text book and think what will I do if I know whose car is that. I’m sure it is one of our teacher’s and probably I can do nothing in the day light. I will think later about it.

I saw she is watching me. I keep my face straight as I listening her and actually trying to get ride of that big eyes keep coming in my thoughts. I startled as the bell announce the period was ending. I jump from my seat and followed her to the door.

"Where are you going…? Nicholas…? She asked.

"You told me to meet you after class…madam.” I remembered her.

"Not now… meet me in staff room after lunch.” She said and goes.

I know my classmates are sharpening their ears to this little chat. I turned back to the room and everyone was looking at me. I shrugged and walk to my seat.

"She has a crush on you….baby…” martin said in a musical voice.

I broadened my chest and rank fingers over my upper lip. Girls are laughing and some boys too. Martin’s face paled because everyone knows that he is short on hair there. He couldn’t answer me because next teacher arrived.

I flowed with the routine and involved in the activities. I had forgotten about the meeting after lunch but remembered when I saw the car. I search the big eyes through the faces in lunch room but no result there. I was sure now he is studying here and one of our teacher’s relative and he is going to pay spraying the mud water on me and laughing at me.

Martin and his crowd met me on the courtyard. I’m on my way to the staffroom. Martin is standing under the banyan tree surrounded by some junior boys. He is talking them and they are eagerly hearing his words as if is some sermon. I can see he is hanging his hands loosely on one of boy’s middle standing in front of him and martin is pressing his pelvis on the boy’s buttocks.

"Hey, martin…. What’s going on…?” I smiled as calling him.

"Welcoming the new boys…buddy…” he is winking. "Where are you up to…?

"See new ma’am.  We are fixing for a date…” I wink back as keeping my pace.

"Yeah…. Update me later…” he starts caressing the boy’s stomach.

"Yeah…” I nodded and cross the yard to office.

Clara ma’am saw me crossing the yard through the window. She said something to the other teachers and is coming to the veranda to meet me. As I approaching her she signaled me to follow her and start to walk along the veranda with me.

"Ma’am… you asked me to come to the staffroom…” I was confused. What is she up to? May be she is taking me to the principal…?

"Yes… but I changed my mind.” she is smiling.

"Where are you taking me…? I want to know.

She stops suddenly and pointed. "I want to show you something…”

I look where she is pointing. We are near the staff’s parking area and she is pointing to that car. I look at her puzzlingly.

"You wanted to know who that car which showered you with mud water is. It’s mine.”  Ma’am is looking me into the eyes. I raise my face so she can't look straight into my eyes. This is the advantage of my height I have.

"Oh….” I look at the broken lights.

"So… what is your plan…? She didn’t smile.

I shrugged. "Nothing… you had showered me with mud and I had broken your lights… I had my revenge…” but not for that boy. I said in mind.

"Are you sure Nicholas…?”

"Sure…” I smiled. I didn’t ask her who is the boy and she didn’t said.

"Come on then…” we turned and walk together to the staffroom. "Nicholas… I thought you are some over aged bully stuck here but now I know you are not. When I talk to the others, they said you are not like that. They have a good opinion about you.” She is smiling.

"Call me Nick ma’am…” I smiled. "So, you don’t have to labor your tongue…”

"How old are you...nick..?”

"Eighteen… but I look older than my age….” I cleared her doubt.

"Eighteen…..” she is saying softly and her face was saddening.

We reached the staffroom and I said bye to her. Why she is sad when I told her my age? Is there is something happened to her? I thought as crossing the courtyard and walk to our class room. Martin and his crowd are not there. I know where I can meet martin now. Lucky boy…! He is good at catching some fish…!

Other boys are in the class but not Martin. Some of them are reading and others made a group and chatting. Everyone stop their doing when I opened the door and looking at me for some clue. I wear a gloomy look and look each of everyone sadly.

"Well…boys… suspension.” I walked to my seat and sit.

"What….” Every mouth was open. Silence fell in the classroom.

This is the first time they hearing I am in a problem. Everyone is shocked.

"But you didn’t do anything to get a suspension…” that is Paul. He knows very well what problem would earn me a suspension.

"That’s the problem…” I’m enjoying this. I look at each worried face and laughed loudly. "It’s okay boys… I didn’t get a suspension. Ma’am knew whose car splashed the mud on me and she told me. That’s all is happened.”

Everyone sighed and starts to complain and I assure them there is nothing to fear about new teacher. She is better than Mr. William and is friendly. We are going to enjoy the English class. Martin came two minutes before the bell rang. I told him what happened. I didn’t ask him where was he because I know.

I forgot whole my thoughts and focused me in the class. But those eyes didn’t go and keep appearing. Last period ended at three thirty and everyone is rushing out the class. I stay back from them. I have to join others in music room. It is in the last corner of second building. Our class room is in the first building and it’s take you five minutes from here if you are fast.

I walk fast. I saw the others walking the same direction. Our music room is a hall attached with some toilets. We are fifteen boys from various classes practicing after the school time. Our music teacher’s name is Robert Gracious and he is living in the staff quarter. He came last year and very talented in his profession. He is shorter in height and barely reaches my chest. All staff quarters are in the school compound. He is not married and about in his middle thirties. I like him because he is very friendly to me.

I heard the sounds of various instruments coming and I fastened my pace. Everyone had taken their positions and Mr. Robert is standing near a boy who was sitting and both are facing the other side. I knocked and enter the room.

"Good evening… Mr. Robert.” I said and took the seat near the drum set.

"Evening…Nick…” his face is blooming. He is blooming whenever he sees me. He has a sweet and soft voice and has something that remembers me feminine. But I am not looking him but the boy who is looking me. Those big eyes…! I stare those eyes.

"Ah... Nick. This is Mr. Melvin D’ Souza. New boy from tenth class and he is in to guitar.”

"Hello…” I shake the hand he offered. "I’m Nick.” A smile is appearing on his face but he hides it cleverly.

 "Nick… you help him with his lessons today…please…I’m busy today.” Mr. Robert looks at me and I lower my eyes. I can't face his eyes and didn’t know why…? Something in his eyes that makes me uneasy.

"Yeah….” I stand and walk to them.

"Thanks…my boy…” Mr. Robert turns to go other corner as I near them.

I stand in front of him and is searching him. I know he is looking at dress and having a laugh inwardly.

"Mr. D’ Souza…” I call him. He raises his head to look at me but his eyes focused on my middle and focused on the bulge visible through the thin uniform. I feel embarrassed and that made me angry. 

"You want this….” I hissed and point my finger to the bulge. He looks at my face then searches others if anyone is watching us. No. everyone is busy with their practice. I sit down on the chair beside him and smiled.

He is looking at me and I search from toe to hair. He is a beautiful boy. He is fare and has a chiseled face. I already know his big eyes but now I saw it is blue and has sadness in them. He has long blond hair like mine. I think he is five feet and a half and has some baby fat in his body. His body is not fat and not slim and his cheeks are smooth and have no hair is appearing. As I looking at him, my heart is filling with an unknown feeling.

"Mr. Nick…” he is calling me.

"Call me Nick...” I saw him frowning. I’m angry because my heart is pounding and my mouth is dry. Why this is happening. Is Melvin making me nervous? I shook the feelings out and lick my lips and take the notation book.

"Are you a relative of Clara ma’am?” I ask him as turning the pages.

"She is my mother…” he said and takes his guitar.

I’m angrier now. I was angry because he laughed at me and angrier because he is making me nervous. This is the first time ever I fell like this with someone. I want to hit him for this but I can't. If I did ma’am would know. I need to think some another way to payback him. As thinking I give him instructions and saw he is checking me with those big eyes when he thought I am not looking him.